Herbs Horsetailgrass

8/22/2019 Herbs Horsetailgrass

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HORSETAIL(a member of the genus Equisetum)

Informal Taxonomy: PLANTS, VASCULAR- FERNS & RELATIVES

Kingdom- Plantae; Phylum- Sphenophyta; Class- Equisetopsida; Order-

Equisetales; Family- Equisetaceae; Genus- Equisetum

Horsetail is the only living descendent of the extinct coal age swamp

forests; the fossilized tissue of the Carboniferous genus Calamites of the order

of sphenopsids turned into coal. Today, the phylum Sphenophyta consists ofonly one remaining family, Equisetaceae, with one genus, Equisetum.Modern

day horsetails (genus Equisetum), unlike the 30 to 60 foot giant trees of the

genus Calamites from the Age of Amphibians, look like long needled, single

stemmed pine seedlings, growing from a few inches to a few feet tall. This

primitive vascular plant group has jointed stems and a terminal spore cone(strobilus). Equisetum has prolific growth possibilities- these hardy perennials

grow in almost any type of soil, and new stems spring up from a creeping

rhizome. The advice is: if you want Horsetail in your garden, grow it in pots-

otherwise you might create a jungle in your yard.

The genus Equisetum consists of 15 (to 25) species of non-flowering,spore-carrying plants- relatives of the ferns. The genus consists of the subgenus

Equisetum and the subgenus Hippochaete, also known as the giant horsetails

or scouring rushes. 15 species of the genus Equisetum are as follows: 1

Subgenus Equisetum Subgenus Hippochaete (giant Horsetails!Scouring Rushes!)

Equisetum arvense - Field or Common HorsetailEquisetum bogotense - Andean Horsetail

Equisetum diffusum - Himalayan Horsetail

Equisetum fluviatile Water HorsetailEquisetum palustre - Marsh Horsetail

Equisetum pratense - Shade Horsetail

Equisetum sylvaticum Wood HorsetailEquisetum telmateia - Great Horsetail

Equisetum giganteum - Giant HorsetailEquisetum myriochaetum - Mexican Giant Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale - Rough Horsetail

Equisetum laevigatum - Smooth HorsetailEquisetum ramosissimum - Branched Horsetail

Equisetum scirpoides - Dwarf Horsetail

Equisetum variegatum - Variegated Horsetail

The name, Equisetum, derives from the Latin words- equus or horse, and seta,

meaning bristle. The plants jointed stems give it a bristly appearance, looking,

indeed, like a horses tail; thus, the popular name of Horsetail. The stems have

a high silica content; Equisetum hyemale contains so much silca that it hasbeen sold for the purpose of polishing metal, and has earned the name of

Scouring Rush. The plant has been used to scour pewter and wooden kitchen

utensils, thus earning the name of Pewterwort; dairymaids used Equisetum to

scour their milk pails.

1Horsetail. 15 Oct. 2005. Wilkipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 30 October 2005.


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Horsetail is used medicinally for diuresis, edema, kidney and bladder

stones, urinary tract infections, incontinence, and general disturbances of the

kidney and bladder. It is also used for alopecia, tuberculosis, brittle fingernails,rheumatic diseases, gout, frostbite, profuse menstruation, and nasal,

pulmonary, and gastric hemorrhage. Topically, horsetail is used for supportive

treatment of wounds and burns.2 It has been used in used inArabic andJewish Traditional Medicine and in Middle Eastern Ethnobotany3. NativeTarahumara herbalists of northern Mexico use E. laevigatumas a wash forwounds, cuts, scratches, and surface infections. It is also used in a tea for

chest congestion, bronchial inflammation, and chest pains. E. hyemaleis used

as a tea for urinary ailments and to stimulate urination. 4 The famous German

herbalist Rudolf Weiss also suggests that horsetail can relieve symptoms of

rheumatoid arthritis.5

As quoted in A Modern Herbal, 6 Nicholas Cullpepper, the 17th century

pioneer of herbal medicine says of Horsetail:

It is very powerful to stop bleeding, either inward or outward, the juiceor the decoction being drunk, or the juice, decoction or distilled water

applied outwardly It also heals inward ulcers It solders together the

tops of green wounds and cures ruptures in children. The decoction

taken in wine helps stone and strangury(A condition marked by slow, painful

urination, caused by muscular spasms of the urethra and bladder.); the distilledwater drunk two or three times a day eases and strengthens the

intestines and is effectual in a cough that comes by distillation from

the head. The juice or distilled water used as a warm fomentation is

of service in inflammations and breakings out in the skin.

According to the Kings American Dispensatory7, the Specific Indications

and uses ofEquisetum hyemaleinclude: cystic irritation; nocturnal urinalincontinence; tenesmic urging to urinate; dropsy; and renal calculi. The onlychange to these indications in Harvey Wickes Felter, M.D.s 1922 The Eclectic

2 Jelin, Jeff M., Pharm.D., Monograph- Horsetail. 28 October 2005. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 30 October 2005.

3Schulman, Risa N., Ph.D.Herb Clip # 091124-221. American Botanical Councils Herb Ed Web. Herbs and Medicinal Materials

Used in the Middle East During Medieval and Ottoman Periods. 27 Nov 2002. iHerb.com Health Encyclopedia. 31 Oct 2005.

4

HerbalGram . 1995;34:44-55. The Journal of the American Botanical Council. Cures of the Copper Canyon: Medicinal Plants of theTarahumara with Potential Toxicity. 2005. iHerb.com Health Encyclopedia. 31 Oct 2005.

5EBSCO Publishing. Horsetail. August 2003. iHerb.com Health Encyclopedia. 31 October 2005.

6 Grieve, Mrs. M. A Modern Herbal- Volume 1 (A-H). New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1971. p 420.

7Felter, Harvey Wickes ,M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. Kings American Dispensatory. 1898. Henriettes Herbal

Homepage. 08 Feb 2002. 30 Oct. 2005.


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Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, is the omission of dropsy8.

Felter describes the action and therapy of Equisetum as: diuretic and

astringent. It is asserted to greatly relieve irritation due to the presence of graveland the tenesmic urging to urinate in acute inflammations of the genito-renal

tract. When the bladder becomes so irritable that the patient, upon dropping to

sleep, loses control over the urine it is said to be specially serviceable. It has

restrained hematuria and is of service in acute prostatitis and in theprostatorrhea which follows it.9

In the 1919 text, The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and

Pharmacognasy, Equisetum hyemale is indicated as a diuretic useful insuppression of urine from any cause. Useful in dropsyand in lithemic

conditions, where the urine is scanty, of high specific gravity, and dark-colored.

It is advised in hematuria, and is of much service in both gonorrheaand gleet. In

cases ofirritable bladderwith much tenesmus, it is soothing in its influence. It

is valuable in the treatment of nocturnal incontinence of urinein children, andin incontinence induced by cystic irritation.10

Although the three classic American texts from 1898, 1919 and 1922

refer to the species Equisetum hyemale, the majority of contemporary western

information on Horsetail refers to Equisetum arvense- the common or field

horsetail. Whether mu zei, Equiseti hiemalis Herba, of the Chinese Herbal

Medicine Materia Medica, is the same species as the Equisetum hyemale of theclassic texts, is not 100% certain; mu zei is indicated for wind-heat affecting the

eyes and causing redness, pain, swelling, cloudiness, blurred vision, pterygium

or excessive tearing; in addition, it stops bleeding and is an auxiliary herb for

blood in the stool or hemorrhoids. It is interesting to note that Equiseti hiemalis

Herba (mu zei) is to be used with caution in cases of urinary frequency,depleted fluids, qi deficiency . 11 Equisetum arvense, (according to Peter

Holmes in The Energetics of WesternHerbs12

), however, is indicated for KI Qideficiency, with frequent, dripping, scanty urination with urinary incontinence

and bedwetting.

Rudolf Steiner, the pioneer of both anthroposophic medicine and

biodynamic gardening, indicated Equisetum arvense in both these fields. The

concept of biodynamics recognizes the role of cosmic energies that create and

maintain life. In biodynamic gardening, a liquid tea prepared from the silica-

rich horsetail plant (Equisetum arvense), (in homeopathic quantities), is used as

8 Felter, Harvey Wickes ,M.D. The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 1922. Henriettes Herbal Homepage. 18Oct. 2001. 30 October 2005.

9Fleter, Harvey Wickes, M.D. 1922. 30 October 2005

10Ellingwood, Finley, M.D. The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognasy. 1919. Henriettes Herbal Homepage.

30 October 2005.

11 Bensky, Dan, and Steven Clavey, Erich Stoger. Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica 3rdEdition. Seattle, WA: Eastland PressInc., 2004. pp 69-70.

12 Peter Holmes. The Energetics of Western Herbs. Snow Lotus Press; 3rd Rev edition., 1997. pp 599-601.


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a foliar spray to suppressfungal diseases in plants.13 In anthroposophical

medicine, Equisetum arvense is used as an antidote against weak digestion14,

and, because of its silicon content, it is beneficial to Kidney functioning:

The peculiar feature of this plant is that it contains a great deal of silicic acid. If wewere to give silicic acid alone it would, however, not reach the kidneys. Equisetum

also contains sulphurous acid salts. Sulphurous acid salts alone work on therhythmic system, on the excretory organs and on the kidneys in particular. Whenthey are intimately combined as they are in Equisetum arvense then the

sulphurous acid salts enable the silicic acid to find its way to the kidneys.15

Homeopathic doses of Equisetum are also used in anthroposophic medicine. Ahomeopathic remedy of Aurum/Equisetum is indicated in a special case of cardiac

insufficiency involving blood circulation and kidney function. Equisetum is noted as thekey remedy for degenerative kidney processes, and can positively influence incipient

glomerular and tubular insufficiency. (pages 156-157: Choosing Remedies; faxed

pages)* A 1% tincture of Equisetum arvense is used in degenerative discs and reactiveconnective tissue swelling; In equisetum we have a double process of silica and sulfur.

Degeneration and inflammation are united in the plant, so to speak. (Pages 283-284:

Choosing Remedies; faxed pages.)* (I can get the exact title/author/publisher- if needed)

Some experts believe that horsetail may be beneficial in preventingosteoporosis because silicon is a vital component for bone and cartilage

formations. In addition, the silicon content is said to exert a connective tissue-

strengthening and antiarthritic action. In addition to silicic acid and silicates,

(sources of elemental silicon), horsetail contains potassium, aluminum, and

manganese along with fifteen different types of bioflavonoids. The bioflavonoidsare believed to cause the diuretic action of this herb.16

Equisetums ethnobotanical uses worldwide include: for sores and woundsin Canada; as an anodyne (pain relief) and carminative (digestive aid) in China;

for albuminuria, calculus, diarrhea, dropsy, hematuria, hemoptysis andtuberculosis in Haiti; for diabetes and Kidney in Iraq; as an antiseptic, and for

cancer in South America; as a diuretic and for tumors in Spain; as anantiseptic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, for consumption, hemostat, Lung

and pile in Turkey; and elsewhere for bladder, consumption, diuretic, dropsy,

dyspepsia, gout, gravel, hemopoietic, hemostat and Kidney.17

13Sridharin,Lakshmi, Dr. Biodynamics; the Sun, the Moon, and the Rose Gardening. 2 March 2002.

31 October 2005

14

Steiner, Rudolf. Spiritual Science and Medicine, Lecture X. 24 October 2005. Rudolf Steiner Archive. 31 October 2005

15 Steiner, Rudolf.Spiritual Science and the Art of Healing, Lecture II.24 October 2005. Rudolf Steiner Archive.

31 October 2005.

16Horsetail (Equisetum arvense). Ecoplant- In Harmony with Mother Nature. 31 October 2005

17Database File for Horsetail (Equisetum arvense). 2004. Raintree Nutrition- Tropical Plant database. 30October 2005.


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In spite of the worldwide, age-old usage of this herb, documented reliable

information regarding the effectiveness of this herb is scanty. On the contrary,

adverse reactions (i.e. potential toxic aspects) of this herb arequoted in theliterature. Because horsetail contains thiaminase, long-term use of this herb

can lead to thiamine deficiency. Nicotine is also an ingredient in horsetail, and

nicotine poisoning has been found in children who have chewed on the hollow

stems of Equisetum. (Equisetum hyemale, for example,makes a great blowgun!) The diuretic nature of this herb can create digoxin toxicity in patientsusing digitalis like drugs. Hypokalemia is a possibility in patients using

diuretics or corticosteroids while taking horsetail.18

The author of Cures of the Copper Canyon: Medicinal Plants of the

Tarahumara with Potential Toxicity (in The Journal of the American Botanical

Councils HerbalGram. 1995;34:44-55) offers a valuable take on the fear that

modern day scientific research can instill in its audience. One mans poison

may be a Tarahumaras panacea,he states. Despite the herbs thiaminasethreat of Vitamin B1 deficiency, the plants also contain saponins, several

flavone glycosides, and silica (Der Marderosian & Liberti, 1988:312). E. hyemale

contains polyphenolic flavonoids with bactericidal activity. It is used for cancer

and carcinomatous ulcers in Austria and Germany (Duke & Ayensu, 1985:295).

E. arvenseis known to contain isoquercitin, beta-sitosterol, and kaempferol.Together these three chemicals place Equisetumon the list of possible natural

remedies towards treating diabetes. Isoquercitin is a diuretic. Beta-sitosterol is

an antihypercholesterolemic [lowers cholesterol]. Kaempferol is also a diuretic

and a natriuretic [causes sodium loss], increasing urine secretions and the

functioning of the kidney cells, increasing, in turn, their permeability andcirculation. The general result is that kidney function improves which helps the

body to positively react to water retention and excessive blood glucose levels,

both of which are secondary symptoms of diabetes (Winkelman, 1991:2). The

authors case is that the anthropological studies of native healing methodsreveal strong empirical underpinnings [of traditional knowledge] which has not

received the attention it merits." 19 Perhaps we would do well to take note!

18 Jelin, Jeff M., Pharm.D., Monograph- Horsetail. 28 October 2005. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. 30 October 2005.

19HerbalGram . 1995;34:44-55. The Journal of the American Botanical Council. Cures of the Copper Canyon: Medicinal Plants of

the Tarahumara with Potential Toxicity. 2005. iHerb.com Health Encyclopedia. 31 Oct 2005.


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Some functions and indications of Herba Equiseti as listed in the

literature are presented in the table below.

Nicholas Culpepper- 17th century herbalist: 1) Stops bleeding- internally/externally 2) Healsulcers (internal) and wounds (external) 3) Stony, painful urination 4) Strengthens the intestines5) Treats cough 6)Treats inflamed, breaking out skin. (See A Modern Herbal, Vol. I; p 421.)

The American Materia Medica(1919): 1) Diuretic- for suppression of urine from any cause

2) Dropsy 3) Lithemic conditions (dark, scanty urine of high specific gravity) 4) Hematuria5) Gonorrhea & gleet 6) Irritable bladder with tenesmus 7) Incontinence of urine in children

8) Incontinence of urine from cystic irritation (See Henriettes Herbal Home Page- Classic Texts.)

http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/

Ecclectic Materia Medica(1922): 1) Cystic irritation 2) Nocturnal urinal incontinence 3)Tenesmic

urging to urinate 4) Renal calculi (See Henriettes Herbal Home Page- Classic Texts.). http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/

Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica:1) Disperses wind-heat, clears the eyes, and reduces

superficial visual obstruction 2) Clears heat and stops bleeding: as an auxiliary herb for blood inthe stool or hemorrhoids (Bensky, Clavey, Stoger. p 69).

The Energetics of Western Herbs: 1)Clears heat, dries damp, reduces infection and stopsdischarge 2) Promotes astriction, reduces secretions, stops discharge & bleeding; promotestissue repair 3) Restores musculoskeletal & connective tissues, regulates mineral metabolism,

restores blood, relieves fatigue; strengthens the KI, LU and Bones 4) Tonifies/circulates urinary

qi, harmonizes urination, relieves pain 5) Promotes detoxification, resolves toxicosis and drainsplethora; promotes urination, dissolves deposits and benefits the skin (Holmes, pp 599-600)

.

Marita Schneider November 1, 2005 Western Herbology


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Herbs Horsetailgrass